Raising a kid in the suburbs? Think again!
A bustling metropolis? Or peaceful suburbs? Each produces vastly different generations of children. “Space vs. commute, more sophisticated kids vs. more sheltered ones, culture vs. cost, traffic noise vs. traffic jams. Fill in your own blanks,” offers Lisa Belkin from The New York Times.
One of the greatest things about a city is its access to a plethora of public transport. Urban youth can escape home and venture into the city, eventually becoming more self-reliant at a young age. They can experience more of the world on their own, thus forming their own philosophical opinions without parental constraints.
On the other hand, access to a single mode of transportation in most suburbs can have resonating consequences on the psychological development of children. Suburbs often feel claustrophobic, especially as youth experience more of an urge to explore the world. According to a New York Times article quoting a resident of West Orange, NJ, “These little towns...are very charming and sweet...but I think when you live in these areas full time, those neighborhood shops aren't so cute [anymore].” Towns can lose their charm quickly, leading teenagers to make dangerous choices in an effort to inject excitement into their daily routines. It’s an unfair predicament; while city teens can visit museums and restaurants in a heartbeat, there are only so many times a suburban teen can visit their local Wawa.
Similarly, neighborhoods allow suburban children to grow up with a strong community, but they also tend to impose social values upon residents. Suburban kids are infinitely more sheltered than city kids due to the homogeneity in their communities. For example, a city kid walking down a street may nod towards a homeless man or have a deep discussion with a street food vendor. A suburban kid walking down a sidewalk may breeze past six identical houses, nod towards neighbors of the same socioeconomic status, and will most likely never think twice about the homeless individuals that live far from their hometown. However, it’s important to note that this is a consequence of the social environment most suburban children grow up in.
Perhaps raising children in the city can produce a fresh generation of risk-takers.
We’ll soon be bringing you an article about the pros of a suburban childhood, but for now we’ll leave you with this thought: “You live in the city for yourself, but you move to the suburbs for your kids.”